Rail anchor



R. A. BLAIR IL ucao 01-1 mm Filed June 10, 19 7 a Sheets+$heet 1 Jan. 15, 1929.

R. v A. BLAIR Original Fi led June 10, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheer 2' i )Ji rnem h. A. BLAIR RAIL ANCHOR Jan. 15, 1929.,

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

"UNITED sr ra-s- PATENT OFFICE.

. noLANnIsA; BLAIR, or roam WAYNE. momma.

RAIL 'ancnon.

Application filed June 10, 1927, Seria1 No. 197,819. Renewed. May 5,1928.

My invention relates to rail anchors and has'for its primary object the provision of a rail anchor of improved construction whlch, when applied to the base flange of a rail, will exert a combination of several gripping actions thereon." A more specific object of the invention is to pro videa rail anchor device adapted to ,be dr ven -1nto frictional gripping engagement \Vlth one base'fiange.

of the rail and which is so constructed that parts of the device are stressed during the application of the anchor to a rail and thereby tend-to-urge' the rail gripping portions 1' thereof toward a position to effect a shackle rail. Y

- Anotherobject isto provide an anchor of i5 grip on the top and bottom surfaces of the theabove character made up of two parts,-

either'or both of which may be made from narrow strips of stock material, and so engagod with each' other that spring pressure of one member serves to hold the other n of the rail, and thereby provide, in effect, a one-piece anchor. -In this connection I contemplate, as one embodiment, the provision her so as to be pressed against the bottom surface of the rail base by the resilience 'of the rail gripping member.

ment and construction of parts which'will provide a convenient striking surface intermediate the rail gripping jaws, whereby the anchor, after the jaws-are driven into tight gripping engagement with the rail, maybe slightly distorted by further driving operationsso as to cause the transverse member of the device to snap over the opposite edge ot-the rail base. D

A further object is to'provide a device Y ofthe above character which is so formed loosened by the pressure of the jaw member against a cross tie,'and which may be applied to eitherside'of the rail in a p 'sition to resist either forward or'back ward reep ing movements of the rail.

flat metal blanks sheared from relatively engagement with it when the anchor is free Another object is to'providean arrange that the shackle grip of the jaw will not .be.

cooperation with the grippin .The invention has for furtherobjects suchother-new and improved constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed 'for carrying out the above stated ob'ects and such other objects as will appear rom the detailed descriptionot the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the'drawings. Fig. l is a side view of a rail anchor device constructed in accordanceiwithmy invention and is shown applied to a' rail base. Fig. 2 is an end view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 and illustrating the' manner in which the jaw memberis distor'ted during the application of the anchor I l to a rail.

Fig. 3- is a view in perspective of the jaw' 'member shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4. is a view in perspective of the transverse'member employed m the "embodlment shown in Fig. lto lock the jaw member' in its applied position. v

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrating a modified constructic-n.

.FigJl' is aview in perspective illustrating the detailed construction of the as shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows the cross bar employed in jaw member connection with the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar I 1 and 2, but illustrate a one-piece anchor device.

Fig/11 is a sectional view taken on line.

11-'11 -of Fig. 9, looking u'pwardly toward the bottom surface of the rail base, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the jaw end of the anchor illustrated in Fig. 9.

The embodiment of my inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, "consists preferably of a rail. gripping memberlO intended to exert the ma or grip of the device on the rail, and transverse member 11 which entends across beneath the rail base 12'a nd engages the opposite edge'thereof'so as to lock i I the gripping member 10 in its operative 'po-:'

sition on the rail. While the principal func tion of the bar 11 is to lock the gripping member on the rail, it' exerts 'throu h its mem er, .a; gripping action transversely o the rail and also a substantial frictional grip on the bottom surface of said rail base. I

blank ofuniform' width and preferably,

-a relatively small radius so as though not necessaril of spring metal and is formed near its en s with recesses 13 and 14. The said recesses are formed seas to fit tightl one edge of the'rail base. The blank is ent, Fig. 3, so as to provide spaced jaw portions 15 and 16 and an intermediate, upwardly projecting seat portion 17. The bends 18, 19, 20 and 21 are preferably'formed with to provide a construction. that will be relatively rigid transversely of the rail, but which, nevertheless, will permit some slight flexing both longitudinally and-transversely of theratl, when the member is. being applied to the rail.

The transverse. bar member is made preferably of steel and may, if desired, boot a higherorlower, grade of steel than that used in the manufacture of the gripping member. Thebarfits between the upstanding jaw portions 15 and 16 of the member- 10 and is held in position by the spring action of said jaw portion exerted against the opposite'edges of the bar.

mediate "portion IZ-of 'the member 10 and provides a .face 23 tioits 15 andltijand anchor to a rail. The vother end of the bar is formed with an upturned flange 24'adapted to snap over the opposite edge of the rail base when the gripping member is driven to its operative position on the rail-base.-

- Preferably the length of the transverse bar is such that the edge 25 of the-flan e 24 will stand a slight distance under tie lower edge 26 of the rail base when the jaws 15, 15" and 16, 1t?- have been driven to their operative positions, but which will be caused to snap over the edge of the rail as hereinafter described, by the further driving operat ions.

'lhe distant-e between the top surface 17 of the intermediate portion 17 and the bottom surface of the rail base is normally less than the thickness ofthe transverse bar ll. \Vith this arrangement of the bar,- the upward movement of the jaws 15 and 16 on the inclined top surface of the, rail base forces the upper surface 2mithe bar 11 into tight frictional engagement witlrthe bottom surface oftherail: base.

'jgl'lhe v gripping member and transverse bar are preferably assembled at thefactory and shipped asfa one-piece anchor. The anchor is applied to the" rail by hooking the jaws 15 and 16 over one flange of the rail base and then striking the end face 23. of the 'bar-pntil the jaws are driven into tight'frlction'al engagement with the top and bottoin to the configuration shown in- The down produce, turned end 22 of the. bar. fits over the interbar' 11 to permit theed'ge 25 of the flange 24 to snap over the edgeo'fthe rail-base. By whiclrstands outwardly 1 applying. the anchor in this manner, the from the outer vertical'edges of the jaw poris adapted to receive the hammer blows during the application of'the 25 of the bar snaps over the opposite edge of the rail base. The pressure exerted by the bar 11 against the bottom surface of the rail base, forces the; intermediate portion 17 of the gripping member 10 downwardly.

The downwardpressure on the intermediate ortion 17 effects a slight spreading of the ower end of the jaw portions 15 and 1,6 and thereby tilts the jaws from the dotted line position 'of Fig. 2' to the full line position.

This distortion'produces ashaekle grip of the 'rail gripping jaws on thetop and bottom, surfaces of the rail base in addition to the prior frictional grip effected by the transverse movement of the jaws. VVhen'the jaws are driven-to the limit of their movement, the'edge 25 of the flange 24, as before stated, remains a slightdistance; inwardly from the lower edge 26 of the rail base. Furtherdriving force applied to the end 2301 the bar 11 produces some compression of the metal of the inner face '28 of the flange 22 and also distorts the gripping member (presumablyby slight spreading or unrolling of theibends 18 and 21) so as to in effect, sufficient elongation of the compression of the metal and the slight distortion of theiinember 10, for exain'plebyd flexing theinte'rmediate posit-ion parallel to the e a position at a slight angle thereto, takes ortion 17 from a ges of the jaws to up all 'looseness of the parts and provides astrong grip transversely of the rail. This grip is maintained by the tendency which the anchor member 10 has to return to the position from which it was sprung by the final driving force.

In Fi s. 5 to 8 inclusive ILhave illustrated I flange 31 in' the slot 33 is preferably a driving fit so as to avoid-any looseness between the parts when the flange 34 of the bar snaps over the edge of the rail base. The gripping member des gnated generally by the refer: emote-character 351s vely sn'nilar to the gripbar 11;in the previously de- "The downturned end 31' of i ping member. shown in the previously described embodiment except that the bends 18f*-21',--instead ofz'being made normallv along lines perpendicular to the "longitudinal edges extending at anpoblique angle tothe said of the blank are bent' a'long a'line,

longitudinal edge's'so that the intermediate a portion .32, when the grippi ngnneinbGQiS-Bo formed, will extend outwardly at an angle tions as indicated by the reference character to-the outer vertical edges-of the jaw por- 35 in Fig. .5. -This construction, it will be noted, provides a striking face which extends outwardly from the vertical edges 36, '37 of the jaw portions of the gripping member so that it can be struck independently of the and t i other portions of the gripping member when the jaws have been driven tov their-full limit. The a plication of this modified embodiment lie character of grip 'efl'ected arev subst'antially'the same as that describedwith the'cmbodiment described in Figsl to 4 in-' elusive and therefore need not'be again described.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are shown an other modified embodiment in which the princi'al-fcaturesfof the inventionare embodied in a. one-piece anchor device. The cross bar member 38 of this embodiment is made integral with the intermediate hearing portion '39 of the rail'- gripping jaw end portions 40 of theranchor. gripping end 40 consists of.;spaced upstandmg jaw portions 41-42, substantially the same as t ejaw portions of the two preceding embodiments. The bends 43,. 44, 45 and 46 are. made with a somewhat greater radius than the similar bends of the other The rail embodiments so'as to provide greater resib the gripping member with converging legs iency in a direction transversely of the rail and to also form-the intermediate portion of 47 .48 which add to the resiliency of the gnpping member vertically of the rail base. In, t is embodiment the topface' 49 of the intermediate member 39 bears directly against the' bottom surface of the rail base and is normally slightly -above the lower jaws 50'-51 when the anchor is free of the rail so that when the anchor is driven transversely of the rail base to force the lower.- 11

jaws 50-51 and the upper-jaws 52-53 into gripping engagement with the rail base,- the downward pressure on the surface 49' will tend to spread the lower portion of the jaw portions 4142' in a manner to effect a shackle grip of the rail grip ing jaws on the top'and bottom. surfaces 0 the railbase,"

. gas illustrated in Fig. 10'. The bends43 and 46 are formed along lines extending at an angle to the longitudinal edges of the blank so that when the rail gripping end is bent to its completed form, the intermediateporii ;ion 39 will stand at an angle to the vertically v disposed jaw ortions 41-42 so as to provide a suitable str ing sii'rface 54. This embodiment of the invention is applied to the base flange of therail in the same manner as the embodiments previously described by strikingthe edge 54. Thedriving force-delivered aga nst the intermediate portion of this em t and likewise the embodiment I in Fig 5 to 8 inclusive, tends to move its applied position the bar '38.

\Vhile I have illustrated my invention in the outer edge of the intermediate portion into alignment withthe outer edges of 4 vertically disposed jaw'portions and thereby exerts an increased vertical pressure against the bottom surface of'the rail base in addition to providing an effective elongation of three specificembodiments, it will be obvi ous that further modifications might be made without departure from the spirit of 4 .the invention. It will be understood therefore that I do not wish to limit myself to the specific construction herein shown and described except in so far specific limitations may appear'in the appended claims.

I claim: .1. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with a jaw portion having gripping surfaces for engaigng one flange of a rail base and provided'with a portion arranged to exert pressure against thehottom of the rail and so disposed with relation to the said gripping surfaces as to htnflexed transversely of the rail and depressed from its normal position during the application of the devit'e'to a rail.

2. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping mem ber' provided with a relatively rigid aw portion having gripping surfaces for engaging one flange of a rail base and providedwith a portion arranged to exert pressure against the bottom ofthe rail and so disposed with relationto the said gripping. surfaces as? to be depressed from its normal position during the application of the device to a rail, and

.means movable transversely of the said jaw portion. for locking the gripping member-in its upright position.

3. In a rail anchor, a railgripping member provided with spaced jaw portions hav ing gripping surfaces for ange of a rail base and provided with a portion arranged between said jaw portions and so disposed with relation to said gripping surfaces as to be depressed from its normal position during the application of engaging one I the device to a rail, and separate means cngaging the opposite edge of the rail base for locking the rail gripping member in its applied position..

4.- In a rail anchor, a railgripping menibetween said intermediate portion of the gripping member. apd the bottom surface 01 the rail and engaging the opposite edge of the'rail base to lock said gripping member in grip mg engagement with one flange. of the 5. In a rail anchor, a railtgripping inen her formed with spaced jaw portions having gripping surfaces adapted to be driven into rail ase and formed with anlintermediate portion extending upwardly toward thebottom surface of the rail base, and a'transverse bar positioned between. the bottom-surface of the rail base and said intermediate portion and adapted 'to' engage the opposite edge of the rail base; the distance between the intermediate portion and the bottom sur-- face of'thc said base being normally less than the thickness of, the ban-whereby the said intermediate portionis depressed'in applying the anchor to a rail.

6. In a rail anchor, a rail. gripping member formed with spaced jaw portions arranged edgewise with respect to the rail and having gripping surfaces adapted to "be driven into gripping engagement with one flange of a rail-base andfforined with an I intermediate portion extending upwardly toward the bottomsurface of the rail base, and a transverse bar positioned between the bottom surface of therai]; ba'se and' i said i intermediate port-ion, formed at one end with the'oi teredge of said intermediate v llbase. i

with a downturned flange" for engagement portion and at the other 'end with an. up-

. turned flange for engagement with the oppo site edge of the rail base;- the distance between the intermediate portion and 'the bottom surface of said base being normally less than the thickness of'the bar, whereby said intermediate portion is depressed in applying the anchor to a rail. j

7. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw :port'ons having gripping surfaces for engagement-with one flange of aa rail, base andprovided" intermediate said jaw portions with an upwardly projecting portion normally so disposed with. respect to said gripping surfaces as to be depressed in applying the anchor to and, whereby the depression of said intershackle gripping engagementwith the rail 8.-- A rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions having gripping surfaces for engagement with the top and bottom surfaces of one flange of a rail base and provided intermediate said. jaw

- portions with an upwardly projecting portion normally so disposedwith respect to said gripping surfaces to be depressed in applying the anchor to a .rail. whei'ehythe depression of said intermediate poition' spreads apart the lower ends of said jaw portions and thereby exerts a shackle gripping force on the top andbottom surfaces of therailbasc.v j

9. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping memberv held at one d b mediate portion moves the aw portioninto I ping member and a separately provided with spaecd portions having gripping surfaces fortngage'ment with the top and bottom surfaces of one flange of a said gripping surfaces as to be 'depressedin applying-{the anchor to a rail, whereby the i-ail-base and provided intermediate said jaw portions with anupwardly pro ectmg'ipor tion. normally :so disposed with respect-to 10 depression g ot saidk-intermediate portion 'spreadsxapart the lower ends of the jaw portions'and thei'cby exerts ajshackle gripping force on :tl-ie 'topf and bottom surfaces of the rail base .iandabar enga ing the grip ing -member and the-opposite edge of the rail to maintain the-gripping member in its opera tive posit on on said baseflange.

so 10. In arail a'nchor; a rail gripping mem+ berprovided with spaced jaw portions-having gripping surfaces forengagement with.

one .fiaiige'of a rail base: and provided inter: mediate said jaw portions with an upwardly projecting'portion normally so disposed .with respect'itq, said gripping surfaces as to-be depressed in'fapplying the anchor to a"-rail,, v 4 whereby thedepression of said intermediate a portion spreads apartthe lower ends of said jaw portions -and thereby exertsa shackle 4 gripping I force on the -top and bottom sur faces of thefrailbase, and a bar formed on -z one end with a flang'e for'engaging thegripa portions 'an d formed 'on the other end. with a flange for:.yengagem ent with the opposite edge of ping member and providing a surface which extcndsbeyond theouter edges of thejawi 11. A 11211181161101 comprising. a= rail ping member formedwith spaced jaw portions'for engagement with one flange ot-v a rail base, and a transverse bar, engagingithef opposite edge of'the rail base and held in engagement with the gripping member by the resilience of. said jaw portions;

12. A .rail' anchor comprising a rail grip- 13. A rail anchor comprising formed bar ping me nber and a. separately formed bar spring grip exerted by .110

engagementv with a rail grip y held at one endby'aspring pressure exerted by said gripping member and formedat-the other end with means forengag'ement with I the opposite edge of theifailbase; the end of i 120 being. formed with a downtiirned-iportion i the said barengagingsaid gripping member which extends outwardly froin the rail grip ping IIIEJIlbQIZIO provide -ajs'triking si'irfaceadapted to receive the hanimerblows:duty ng the application offa-de'vice to a rail.

gaging one flange of -a .ra i land an "inter'z i25- rail anchorcomprisirig a member? provided with spaced'jaw portions for" en--.

1 position thereon by spring pressure exerted mediate pdrtion extending under the base of I theg rail, a'"-tra'nsverse bar p for engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base sup ported on said intermediate portion of the gripping member and retained in its normal position by a spring pressure exerted by said aw portions. g

15. A rail anchor comprising a member provided with-spaced jaw portions for-enaging one flange of a rail and an intermeiate portion extending under'the base of'the rail, a transverse bar for engagement with the opposite edgeof the rail base supported on said intermediate portion and retained in by said jaw portions; the length of said bar being nor-malty insuflicientto clear the opposite edge of the rail base when the jaw portions have reached the limit of their applyin movement, whereby it is necessary in' applying the device to a rail to distort the gripping member in a direction transversely of the rail to effect engagement of said bar with the'opposite edge of the rail base.

16. A rail anchor comprising a member provided with spaced jaw portions for engaging one flange of a rail and an intermediate portion extending under the base of a rail, a transverse bar for engagement with theopposite edge of the rail base and the sa'in intermediate portion and retained in position by a spring pressure exerted by said jaw portions, the length of said bar being normall insuflicient to clear the op posite edge 0 the rail base when the jaw portions have reached the limit of their applying movement, whereby it is necessary to compress the metal of the co-engaging surfaces of said members to effect engagement of the bar with the opposite edge of the rail base.

17. A rail anchor comprising a rail grip- I. ping member formed with spaced jaws for engagement with one fliiiige of a rail base and provided with an upwardly extendin intermediate portion adapted to be depresse during the application of the gripping member to its operative position and there- I by efiect a spreading of the lower end of said gripping members to produce a shackle gripof said jaw ortions on the top and bottom surfa'ces o v verse'bar positioned between said jaw portions and adapted to be clamped between the bottom surface of'the rail base and said} intermediate portion ofthe gripping mem': her during the application of the anchor to a rail; the length of said bar being normally insuflicient to engage the opposite edge of the rail base when the jaw portionshave been driven to the full limit of their movement, .whereby the engagement of said bar with the opposite edge of the rail base is effected by compression of the co-engaging surfaces of said bar and said gripping membase and the said upwardly projecting the rail base, a trans her and by distortion of said gripping member transversely of the rail.

v 18. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions having gripping surfaces for engagement with' one flange of a railbase and provided intermediate said ja-w portions with means for exerting pressure vertically of the rai1,-a separable transverse bar engaging said intermediate portion and formed to engage the oppositeedge of the rail base.

19. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions having gripping surfaces for engagement with one flange of a railbase and provided with an intermediate upwardly projecting portion, a transverse-bar engagingsaid inter- 20. In a rail anchor, a rail gripping member provided with spaced jaw portions having gripping surfaces for engagement with one flange of a rail base and provided intermediate said jaw portions with an upwardly rejecting portion, a transverse bar engaging said intermediate portion and formed to engage a longitudinal edge of the rail base; the length of said bar being normall insuflicient to engage said edge of the rail portion of the gripping member being a apted to yield transversely of the rail to permit.

engagement of said bar wit tudinal edge of the rail base.

21. Ina rail anchor, a gripping member for gripping'one edge of the rail base, separable means engaging said gripping memh the said longiber and adapted, by a'flexing of said gripping member transversely of the rail, to engage the other edge of the rail base to 1001: said tion. I 22. A rail anchor comprising a relatively member carried by said yielding part and movable transversely of the rail relative to said jaw portion into gripping engagement with the opposite edge of the rail base to 150kthe jaw portion in its. rail gripping position, 7.

gripping member inits operative posifliiditg.rail anchor comprising a jaw portion having a rail gripping-part and a portion movable both vertically and transverse- 1y of th rail relative to said first mentioned part and adapted by said movementto so' stress a portion of the anchor as to exert spring pressure agaimt the rail.

BOLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

